A review by caseysummer
The Devil's Punchbowl by Greg Iles

3.75

 

The Devil’s Punchbowl is  the third book in the Penn Cage series. At its core, it’s a story about deep-seated corruption in a Southern town, and like the other books in the series, it was a solid page-turner. I gave it a 3.75 overall—an enjoyable read, even if not quite on par with the first two. 

The plot was filled with dark twists and plenty of conspiracy, which, while sometimes a little over-the-top, kept things engaging. Some of the help Penn receives felt a bit unrealistic, but I was willing to suspend disbelief for the sake of the story. 

One thing worth noting—this book includes graphic violence, including dog fighting, which was disturbing but also clearly meant to underscore the depths of the criminal world Penn was confronting. It wasn’t easy to read, but I understood its purpose in the narrative. 

Like many of Iles’s books, this one could have been tighter. There were moments where the digressions pulled me out of the story and made it feel longer than it needed to be. Still, the mix of suspense, returning characters, and Southern gothic atmosphere made for a compelling read.